Getting the Best Value on a Fort Lauderdale Divorce Attorney
Getting the Best Value on a Fort Lauderdale Divorce Attorney
Divorces can be expensive. Not only does property have to be split up and child support have to be arranged, but you also have to consider the high costs of hiring a divorce attorney. A Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney that bills by the hour could end up costing you many thousands of dollars before your case is completed. $3500 or more for an initial retainer is nothing unusual. When the lawyer uses that up he'll ask for more.
The fact is that the average person can't afford to hire a "billable hour" attorney. It's just way too expensive, especially considering the heavy financial toll caused by everything else related to the divorce.
So what options are available to citizens who need to file for a divorce on the cheap? There are two basic choices, one good and one not so good.
The not-so-good option is to use a "divorce paralegal" to help you prepare your divorce papers and file for a divorce. "Divorce paralegals" and their document preparation services have become very popular online because they claim to offer cheap options for those looking to get divorced.
However, there is a big catch. They aren't lawyers. According to Florida state law, paralegals aren't allowed to practice law.
A true paralegal is someone who works under the direct supervision of a lawyer. The "divorce paralegals" are not true paralegals because they do not work with a lawyer. Rather, they are inexperienced and unsupervised individuals who hold themselves out as divorce lawyer substitutes.
So if the "divorce paralegal" you see online isn't working with a lawyer or a law firm, he has no right to be offering legal advice. All he can legally do is provide a secretarial service and fill in blanks on Florida Supreme Court authorized forms. He's in violation of the law if he tells you which form to use, what it means, how to fill in the blanks, what to do with it after it has been filled in and so on. Violating Florida's unauthorized practice of law statute is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. And even if he wasn't violating the law, do you really want an inexperienced legal assistant being the one to give you counsel during such an important case as your divorce?
That's probably not the best idea. And experienced lawyers will tell you that these services almost always end up in frustration and disappointment for clients. That's because "divorce paralegals" lack experience and familiarity with the law, and a lot of times, their cases get rejected by the clerk because the paperwork was filed improperly or a judge gets upset and sanctions someone. Or dismisses the case and you have to start all over again, including paying an additional filing fee.
So it's clear that you need to hire an actual Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney to handle your divorce. But how can you find one you can afford?
Your best bet is to look online for a flat fee legal service. There are some law firms that are able to offer heavily discounted fees because they take advantage of "discreet task representation." This is a part of the law that allows lawyers in family cases to make limited appearances in the case with consent of the client, streamlining the process for all parties involved, making affordable what otherwise might be too expensive.
The great thing about low, flat attorney fees is that you know how much you're going to pay up front. Compare this to the uncertainty and high costs of hiring a typical "billable hour" Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney, and it's clear why these services are advantageous.
Of course, you want to make sure you're getting professional legal representation. Price isn't everything. So take the time to do your research, and make sure the service you use is backed by an actual law firm with experienced lawyers.
Use these tips to save money on hiring a Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney!
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